Nearly Half A Million Black And Biracial Brazilians Joined The Upper And Middle Classes

08/13/2018 - 11h07

In 2017, almost 500,000 self-declared blacks and biracial Brazilian ascended to classes A and B (the Brazilian equivalent to upper and middle classes). This movement is opposite to last year's general trend, when 800,000 people left the upper socioeconomic levels.

The upward path for black and biracial people is the only good news in Pnad Contínua's 2017 social class data, comparing to 2016. Pnad Contínua is an annual survey done with population samples, akin to the American Community Survey in the US.

Class B are families with monthly average income from R$ 4,000 and R$ 14,200 (US$ 1,000 and US$ 3,800). Families with monthly incomes above R$ 14,200 (US$ 3,800) are in class A. Class E familiies have monthly income of up to R$ 714 (US$ 190.50).

The data is adjusted for inflation and for survey purposes a family is composed of four people.

But experts say it's still early to say that this positive upwards movement is a result of recent affirmative action policies in Brazil.

The growing number of people self declaring as black or biracial also explains part of the phenomenon.

Also, corporations have been seeking to diversify their workforces through affirmative action - a trend that official Brazilian policies might strengthen in the future.

"I have no doubt that there is a more inclusive direction, but I can't say that actual change has already happened," says Rachel Maia, the former CEO of Pandora jewelry's operation in Brazil. She is one of the very few black Brazilian females to become a C-level executive in the country.

Translated by NATASHA MADOV

Read the article in the original language